Points on Travel Taboos Traveling the globe can be a behavioral (a. 行为的 ) minefield (n. 雷区 ), even when you have the best intentions. Try to avoid cultural mistakes when going abroad. Touching Someone Where it's offensive: Korea, Thailand, China, Europe and the Middle East. Personal space varies as you travel the globe. In Mediterranean ( a. 地中海地区的 ) countries, if you don't greet them with kisses or a warm embrace ( n. 拥抱 ), you'll be considered cold. In Thailand, the head is considered sacred——never pat ( n. 拍) a child on the head. Blowing Your Nose Where it's offensive: Japan, China, Saudi Arabia and France. Some cultures find it disgusting to blow your nose in public - especially at the table. The Japanese and Chinese are repelled by the idea of a handkerchief. Removing Your Shoes... or Not Where it's offensive: Hawaii (夏威夷) , the South Pacific (太平洋) , Korea, China and Thailand. Take off your shoes when arriving at the door of a London dinner party and the hostess will find you uncivilized ( a. 不文明的) , but fail to remove your shoes before entering a home in Asia, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands and you'll be considered disrespectful ( a. 无礼的) . Not only does shoe removal very practically keep sand and dirt out of the house, it's a sign of leaving the outside world behind. This is a global village, and we are all very different. Once you are on the ground of a different country, remain highly sensitive ( a. 敏感的) to native ( a. 本族的) behavior.